Outreach

In this section we have provided some outline information on the outreach programmes with which our Church is currently involved.

Whitechapel Mission

For over 130 years the Whitechapel Mission has been working with the poor and homeless, providing a place of welcome and safety every day of the year. Hot breakfasts are served every morning and showers and clean clothes are available along with help and advice.

Stoneleigh Methodist Church has been supporting their work for over 50 years financially and practically by collecting clothes, shoes, toiletries, towels, sleeping bags and food which is taken up to the Mission and also by going to help with cooking breakfast, sorting clothes or cooking lunch for the ladies’ group.

Whitechapel is run by some devoted and inspirational people but has very few regular staff and so needs the support of volunteers to keep going. It is a friendly, rewarding group to be involved with and all offers of help are greatly appreciated. To find out more about the Whitechapel Mission, please visit their website.

Kathryn’s Mercy Home

It is now over 20 years since one of our previous Ministers, Ian Howarth, first met Reverend Jeyapaul while he was on an Exchange visit to Devakottai in Tamil Nadu, South India, as part of his theological training course. Ian learnt of Jeyapaul’s dream to help disadvantaged village children but more than 10 years passed before the dream was realised. Kathryn’s Mercy Home started as purpose built residential accommodation for 15 orphan boys from the untouchable caste, living in extreme poverty and deprivation in remote rural villages. During the day they attended the local school. We, at SMC, sponsored two students, Brabu (now a teacher) and Vinooth (who is still completing his college studies), over a period of 7 years. Currently there are 40 boys in the home.

For the last few years the church’s annual donation has been used to support two 11 year old youngsters, Ranjit Kumar and Christy. In addition, individual members of the congregation are participating in private sponsorship arrangements.

Jeyapaul has also established a parallel project to support 80 girls and 15 elderly widows in Joan’s Grace Home. Jeyapaul’s vision has been further extended with his development of Kathryn’s Nursery and Primary school with 130 pupils and a Child Development Centre. Under the latter scheme five teachers are sent to local villages to improve standards in local Government schools. Over the years volunteers from the UK have made regular visits to Devakottai to provide help and learn about the good work being done in the region. The latest volunteers include Ian Howarth’s student daughter Rosie (see picture below) and her friend who spent one month in the summer heat as guests of Jeyapaul, and helped teach, among other things computer skills.
Rev Jeyapaul visits the UK every two to three years to give us an update on his good work and to provide us with an insight into the Christian vision of the Church of South India.

Further background information can be found on the their website, or by contacting those members of our congregation (via our contact us page) who are familiar with the work being done at Devakottai.

Action for Children

Action for Children (formerly NCH), the children’s charity of the Methodist Church, came into existence in 1869 with the vision of a Methodist minister, the Revd Thomas Stevenson. Ever since then, the organisation has been committed to helping the most vulnerable children in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential.

For many years, through the generosity of its members, SMC has been sending between £1,000 and £1,500 to Action for Children towards the continuation of its work. These gifts have been collected in a variety of ways, i.e. through Light of Life boxes, sponsored walks, the envelope collection taken on what was NCH Sunday and at our Crib and Christmas morning services and through donations from individuals and church organisations.

Methodist Homes for the Aged

Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) has over 60 years experience in providing a range of services for older people. They now serve over 12000 people in residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, in a care home setting. They provide sheltered housing, supported retirement housing for sale, and community support teams for people living in their owm homes. Inspired by Christian concern, its mission is to improve the quality of life for older people. MHA benefits from the dedication of 4000 staff and 5000 volunteers. SMC supports the work of MHA by holding an annual envelope collection.

Christian Aid

The organisation was set up over 60 years ago with the belief in a world free from poverty and injustice and in helping people regardless of religion and nationality. This is done through relief for those hit by disaster, helping people help themselves out of poverty and in speaking out against injustice. This involves delivering real and practical benefits on the ground, speaking out (itself and with others) where there is injustice, and campaigning for change.

In this country the organisation is principally known for Christian Aid Week (usually in May each year) and in particular door-to-door collections by churches and their members.

SMC has participated for many years now, although it becomes more challenging year by year as our congregation ages, and members have to give up. New helpers are always welcome.

We have some 20 roads involving approximately 1,500 properties allocated to us, and in 2011 our members collected a total of £1,535.

World Mission Fund

Every Easter the Methodist Church in Britain invites donations to the World Mission Fund through Easter Offering envelopes. Envelopes are made available in Church throughout the Easter period and the donations are used by the Fund to support projects and individuals throughout the world.

Foodbank

In 2012 we decided to support the Epsom & Ewell foodbank – details here.